Alliance delight for teenage ace Dainty

GOLF

SIMON Dainty, Suffolk's newest professional, took the honours in the Suffolk Winter Alliance meeting at Fynn Valley.

The talented teenager, now attached to Fynn Valley, shot a two under par 68 to win by two shots from Alex Lucas, another of the Fynn Valley professionals, and Stowmarket's Jon Markham.

Lucas and his partner Nick Denny were winners of the Stableford better-ball prize, collecting 44 points to edge out five pairs that all finished on 43.

Overnight fog had threatened this Winter Alliance meeting – the previous two at Newton Green and Rookery Park had both been cancelled, although new dates in the future have been arranged – and despite the start being delayed for a quarter of an hour the meeting was completed.

The foggy start meant slow play was inevitable and this affected the later starters who played the last few holes with the daylight gone.

However it was those players who went out towards the end of the field that were in the prizes with some really close scoring.

Home players Quinton and Crane posted an early return of 43 points, which looked good enough for most of the day, but they were eventually overhauled and had to settle for fourth place.

Despite the wet conditions, the course was in good condition, but played very long with little run on the ball.

The next Alliance meeting is this Sunday at Rushmere when a large entry is expected for this popular venue.

Prizewinners

Professionals: 68-Simon Dainty (Fynn Valley). 70-Alex Lucas (Fynn Valley) and Jon Markham (Stowmarket).

Stableford better-ball: 44 pts- A Lucas and N Denny (Fynn Valley). 43- S Chalk and R Toone (Stoke-by-Nayland), J Markham and W Darling (Stowmarket),T Quinton and B Crane (Fynn Valley), P Jiggins and R Hitchcock (Stoke-by-Nayland).

Other leading scores: 43- I Thompson and M Johnson. 42- W Starke and J Earle, K Vince and H Hambling, A Middle and W Beeton, A Holmes and P Presland, B Letham and E Simpson, D Muttitt and T Clarke, C Elliott and S Mann.